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James Hamilton Jr.

James Hamilton Jr.
James Hamilton, Jr.jpg
53rd Governor of South Carolina
In office
December 9, 1830 – December 10, 1832
Lieutenant Patrick Noble
Preceded by Stephen Decatur Miller
Succeeded by Robert Y. Hayne
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 2nd district
In office
December 13, 1822 – March 3, 1829
Preceded by William Lowndes
Succeeded by Robert W. Barnwell
25th Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina
In office
1821–1822
Preceded by Elias Horry
Succeeded by John Geddes
Member of the South Carolina Senate from St. Philip's and St. Michael's Parish
In office
November 28, 1836 – November 26, 1838
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from St. Philip's and St. Michael's Parish
In office
November 27, 1820 – November 25, 1822
Personal details
Born (1786-05-08)May 8, 1786
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Died November 15, 1857(1857-11-15) (aged 71)
Gulf of Mexico
Political party States' Rights Democrat
Other political
affiliations
Nullifier Party

James Hamilton Jr. (May 8, 1786 – November 15, 1857) was an American lawyer and politician. He represented South Carolina in the U.S. Congress (1822–1829) and served as its 53rd Governor (1830–1832). Prior to that he achieved widespread recognition and public approval for his actions as Intendant (mayor) of the city of Charleston, South Carolina in 1822, during the period when plans for a slave rising were revealed. As governor, he led the state during the Nullification Crisis of 1832, at the peak of his power.

Hamilton organized a city militia in June 1822 to arrest suspects, including the purported free black leader Denmark Vesey, supported the City Council in commissioning a Court of Magistrates and Freeholders, and defended their actions, including ordering the execution of Vesey and 34 other blacks, and deporting of tens of others. He helped shape the public perception of the Court proceedings and the reasons for the revolt, as well as gaining legislation in 1822 for more controls on slaves and free people of color. Because of problems with crippling debt after 1839, Hamilton's reputation suffered.

James Hamilton was born on May 8, 1786, in Charleston, South Carolina, to James and Elizabeth (Lynch) Hamilton, both of the Lowcountry planter elite; his mother was the daughter of Congressman Thomas Lynch and sister of Thomas Lynch Jr.

His parents sent him to preparatory schools in New England; he studied in Newport, Rhode Island, and Dedham, Massachusetts, before returning to Charleston. In the city he read law under prominent attorneys Daniel Huger and William Drayton. Hamilton passed the bar and went into practice in Drayton's office; he later was in partnership with James L. Petigru.


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